Electric-lamp support.



No. 642,9". Patented Feb. 6, I900.

H. LONG. ELECTRIC LAMP SUPPORT.

(Application filed Oct. 5, 1899.)

(No Modal.)

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No. 642,-9Il. Patented Feb. 6, I900.

- H. LUNG. ELECTRIC LAMP SUPPORT.

(Application filed Oct. 5, 1899.)

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(No Model.)

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H LONG. ELECTRIC LAMP SUPPORT.

(Application filed Oct. 5, 1899.)

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(No Model.)

IN VENTOR MIZCALE SSE 8 @6 5 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC-LAMP SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,911, dated,February 6, 1900.

Application filed October 5,1899. Serial No. 732,654. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY LONG, of Greentown, in the county of Howardand State of Indiana, have invented a new and Improved Electric-LampSupport, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in supports for electric lamps,especially lamps used for street-lighting; and the object is to providea simple means for supporting a lamp and for raising and lowering it andso arranged that upon lowering the lamp the electric current will beautomatically out off and so that a person may change or insert carbonswithout danger.

I will describe an electric-lamp support embodying my invention and thenpoint out the novel features in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a support embodying my invention.Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a section onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section similar to that of Fig. 3,but showing the parts in a different position. Fig.5 is a section on theline 5 5 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a partial elevation and partialsection showing a modification.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a hollow post having at itsupper end a horizontally-disposed arm 2, from which a tube 3 extendsdownward. Arranged in the lower portion of the post 1 is asprocket-wheel4 and a sprocket-pinion 5. The shaft of the pinion 5 isextended outward through an opening in the post and is adapted toreceive a crank 6, and on the pinion is a ratchet-wheel 7, engaged by adog 8 to prevent a backward rotation of the pinion. The base of the postis provided with a door 8, so that access may be had to the interior toadjust the parts, if found necessary. Engaging with the pinion 5 andalso with the sprocket-Wheel 4 is a sprocket chain 9, which extendsupward through the post and over idlers 11, 12, and 13 and thencethrough the tube 3 to a con nection with the head or upper portion 14 ofan arc-lamp.

Bigidly connected to the downwardly-ex tended tube 3 is areceiving-frame comprising a top plate 15 and a bottom ring 16, the topplate 15 and the ring 16 being connected by posts 17. The parts 15, 16,and 17 are preferably made in one casting, and the part 15 has aninterior screw-thread to engage with the screw-thread of the tube 3.

Attached to the lamp and movable into and out of the receiver is a headfor the lamp, comprising a ring-shaped plate 18, a ring-shaped bottomplate 19, and segmental blocks 20, ar-

ranged between the two ring-shaped plates.

Fastening bolts 21 pass through the ringshaped platelS, the blocks 20,and the ringshaped plate 19 and engage in the portion 14 of the lamp, asplainly indicated in Fig. 3. Between thezblocks 20 and the plate 18 is aringplate 22, and between this plate 22 and the plate 18 I preferablyplace an insulating material 23, consisting, preferably, of mica, and amica insulation 24 is placed between the lower ends of the blocks andthe top of the plate 19. It will be noted that the plate 19 has adownwardly-extended flange 2,5, the purpose of which will be hereinafterdescribed.

Movable radially between the blocks 20 are stop-blocks 26. For the sakeof lightness these stops are preferably made hollow. The inner surfacesof the stop-blocks are inclined downward and inward, as plainlyindicated in Figs. 3 and 4, and these inclined surfaces are providedwith channels 27, having undercut side walls to receive a dovetail rib28,

formed on the lower end of the conical portion 29 of a tubular spreader30. Upon a certain movement of the spreader, as will be hereinafterdescribed, it is designed to engage friction-tight with a clamping-ring31, supported from the top plate 15, but having a vertical movementrelatively thereto. As here shown, bolts 32 extend from the clamping-ring upward and at their upper ends through openings in the plate 15. Thebolts 32 are provided with heads to prevent them from passing entirelythrough the contracted lower ends of the openings in the plate 15. Thering 31, as shown, is a split ring, so that it may yield to receive theupper end of the spreader.

Mounted to swing on the ring 16 are supporting-latches 33, 34, and 35.Each latch is supported between lugs 36, cast integral with the ring 16,and the pivot is so arranged that the inner end will overbalance theouter end, causing the inner ends to swing downward under certainconditions. The outer ends 37 of the latches are beveled to engage abevel portion 38 of the ring 16 to prevent the latches from beingswungtoo fa-routward. Main couducting-wires 39 40 lead through the post1 and connect with the ring 16. The wires are insulated from the ring,as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and the ends are embedded in the ring, sothat the upper surfaces of the wires are flush with the uppersurface ofthe ring. Preferably this portion of the wires will be flattened, asindicated in the drawings, and of course the bare wire will be exposed.This exposed portion of the wire is designed to be engaged bycircuit-closing wires 41 42, passing, respectively, through the latches33 and 34. Then the latches are in their horizontal position, the lowerends of the circuit-closing wires 41 42 will engage, respectively, withthe wires 39 and 40, and the upper ends of these circuit-closing wireswill engage with exposed portions of the wires 43 and 44, attached tothe plate 22, but insulated therefrom. These wires 43 and 44 lead intothe lamp to supply a current to the carbons. A hood 45 may be connectedto the tube 3 to protect the lamp from rain or snow.

In operation when the lamp is suspended the parts will be in theposition indicated in Fig. 3-that is, the latches will be in ahorizontal position, with the ring 22 resting thereon. Therefore it willbe seen that these latches form the support for the lamp. The currentwill pass through the wire 39, the wire 41, and the wire 43 into thelamp and then out through the wires 44, 42, and 40. Of course this ordermay be reversed. It will be noted that when the lamp is suspended thestop-blocks 26 will be moved inward, so as to permit the ends of thelatches to engage with the under side of the plate 22.

When it is desired to lower the lamp, it is first drawn upward by meansof the chain 9, and by this upward movement the upper outer edge of thering 19, engaging with the latches 33, 34, and 35, will swing saidlatches upward, immediately cutting out the current. This upwardmovement is to be continued until the latches engage with the flange 25of the ring-plate 19, and during this movement the upper end of thespreader 30 will engage with the clamping-ring 31, forcing the sameupward until it engages with the under side of the plate 15. As theparts are moved still farther upward the upper end of the spreader willengage within the clamping-ring and come to a stop, so that upon furthermovement of the carrying-head the stop-blocks 26 will be moved outward,so that their outer surfaces will be in vertical alinement with theedges of the plates 18 and 19. Now upon turning the gearing to lower thelamp the several parts will move downward, the frictional engagement ofthe spreader 30 with the ring 31 causing said ring to also movedownward. During this downward movement the latches will be preventedfrom turning downward or inward by engaging with the outer surfaces ofthe stopblocks. When, however, the parts shall have been movedsufficiently downward to engage the latches with the top ring 18, thering 31 will be stopped by the heads of the bolts 32, and when the ring31 comes to a stop the spreader 30 will also come to a stop, so that bya farther downward movement of the lampcarrying head the stop-blocks 26will be moved inward to their normal position, and their inward movementmay be limited by suitable stops or pins. Then the lamp is again raised,the top of the plate 18, coming in engagement with the inner ends of thelatches, will swing said latches upward, where they will remain untilthe blocks 26 are opposite the latches. At this time the latches willswing downward by gravity and support the lamp, as before mentioned. Alug 46 on the edge of the plate 18 is designed to engage in a channel47, formed in one of the posts 17. This will guide the lamp into thesupportingframe and also prevent any rotary movement of the lamp or itscarrying-head while in position.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a socket 48 for receiving an incandescent lamp49. Supported in the socket are the supporting-latches 50 and 51,similar to the supporting-latches before described and also serving ascircuitclosersthat is, wires extend through these latches for connectingthe contact-plates of the socket with the contact-plates connecting withthe filament in the lamp. To remove the lamp from the socket, it is tobe raised in the socket, so that the latches by pressing upon theirouter ends may be swung with their inner ends sufficiently lifted toclear the flange 52 of the lamp. When it is desired to insert the lamp,it is only necessary to push it upward against the inner ends of thelatches to swing the latches upward, and then by slightly lowering thelamp the latches will engage with the under side of the flange 52, asindicated in Fig. 6.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. An electric-lamp support, comprising asuspended frame, latches mounted to swing on said frame, a lamp-carryinghead with which a lamp is designed to be connected, the saidlamp-carrying head being movable into and out of the frame, stop-blocksradially movable in said head, and means operated by vertical movementsof the head for causing the movements of said blocks, substantially asspecified.

2. In an electric-lamp support, a suspended frame or receiver,comprising a ring-shaped plate at its lower end, latches mounted toswing on the said ring-shaped plate, conducting-wires connecting withthe plate, a lampcarrying head comprising a ring-shaped lower latchesfor closing the circuit between said lamp-wires and the main conductorswhen the latches are in supporting engagement with the head,substantially as specified.

3. In an electric-lamp support, a suspended frame or receiver, a headmovable into and out of said frame or receiver, latches on the frame orreceiver for engaging with the head to support a lamp, blocks mounted tomove radially in the head and adapted when in their outer position tohold the latches in an upward position when the head carrying the lampis moved downward, a spreader having sliding engagement with the innerportions of said blocks, and means for operating the spreader,substantially as specified.

4. An electric-lamp support, comprising a suspended frame or receiver, alamp-engaging head movable in the frame or receiver, stopblocks movableradially in said head, latches for engaging with the head and also forengaging with the stop-blocks, the inner surfaces of said blocks beinginclined downward and inward and provided with channels having undercutopposite walls, and a spreader having a conical portion provided withribs for engaging in said channels, substantially as specified.

5. An electric-lamp support, comprising a head adapted to be secured tothe lamp, a chain or the like extended from said head and connectingwith a lifting-gearing, a frame for receiving said head and having aring-shaped lower portion, latches mounted to swing on said lowerportion, the inner ends of said latches overbalancing the outer ends,circuitclosing wires carried by certain of the latches, lamp-wiresconnecting with the head, and main conductors connecting with saidringshaped lower end of the frame, the wires carried by the latchesserving to place the con duetors and lamp=wires in electricalconnection, substantially as specified.

6. In a lamp-support, a frame or receiver for the head portion of alamp, latches mounted to swing on the frame or receiver, the saidlatches being adapted to support the lamp, and circuit-closing wiresextended through the latches, substantially as specified.

7. In an electric-lamp support, a suspended frame, a lamp-carrying headmovable into and out of said frame, blocks mounted to move radially insaid head, latches on the frame for engaging with said blocks when intheir outer position, a spreader engaging with the inner ends of saidmovable blocks, and a clamping-ring for said spreader, supported by theouter portion of the frame but adapted to slide relatively thereto,substantially as specified.

HARRY LONG.

Witnesses:

AUBURN E. LoNe, CHARLTON BULL.

